Starkey Road work will take two years

What in the world is going on on Starkey Road and how long will the construction last?

Mary Stevenson

This is a wide-ranging roadway, drainage and utility improvement project that began in December. Work along the corridor of Park Street/Starkey Road from 84th Lane N to just north of 82nd Avenue N and crossing Park Boulevard is expected to be completed in January 2018.

Throughout the life of the two-year project, there will be lane closures that take place both during the day and at night, so slowdowns are to be expected. The Doc's advice for motorists who don't need to directly access Park Street/Starkey Road is to use alternate north/south routes, such as 113th Street N, Seminole Boulevard or Belcher Road.

I live west of the Pinellas Trail and often use 86th Avenue. There is a blinking yellow light at the trail. Bicyclists and pedestrians usually wait until the traffic clears to cross 86th Avenue. Recently, I have been behind motorists who stop and let the bicycle or pedestrian pass. What is the rule on this? It could be dangerous, as cars don't expect a motorist to suddenly stop.

Jo Ann Carnahan

Sudden stops by motorists can indeed be dangerous, even when motorists are simply being courteous by stopping to allow trail users to cross. So, too, can darting across a trail crossing when it's not safe. The same rules apply to Pinellas Trail crossings that apply to intersections on the road: the yellow blinking lights are there to alert motorists to the presence of a pedestrian crossing and to proceed with caution. Some of the crossings for Pinellas Trail users have blinking pedestrian crossing lights that can be activated, some do not, and so it's important for trail users to be cautious. When a motorist encounters a trail crossing in which pedestrians or cyclists are already crossing the roadway, the pedestrians have legal possession of the road and motorists should yield the right of way. Users of the trail are expected to yield to motor traffic and cross roadways that intersect with the trail only when safe to do so.

I'm wondering if the work on Central Avenue will be going on through spring break. Can you find out?

It depends on what you consider to be spring break. Work to mill and repave Central Avenue from Park Street to Pasadena Avenue that began last week is scheduled to be completed the first week of April. In the meantime, motorists can expect to encounter nightly (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) lane closures and intermittent delays.

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